“I will retire from the Ecuador national team after the World Cup,” said man-of-the-match Delgado, who scored the second goal. “I have taken this decision because we need to leave some room for youngsters.

“The national team demands a lot of work and it requires a lot from me (considering injuries).”

The way Ecuador have been playing suggests Delgado could have several more games left to play.

In only their second World Cup finals, Ecuador have not missed a beat. Luis Suarez’s men have yet to concede a goal and have proved deadly in attack, netting five times in their two group games.

Former Southampton striker Delgado believes his team are capable of finishing top of Group A, ahead of their next opponents Germany.

The Tricolor take on the host nation on June 20 in Berlin, with both sides having won their opening two matches.

“We are thinking about winning every game in order to finish first of the group,” said Delgado. “I think the game against Germany will be the most beautiful for us to play because both teams have already qualified for the next round.”

However, finishing top of their group would allow Ecuador to avoid a probable meeting with England in the knock-out stages.

The Barcelona Sporting Club forward does not have many fond memories of his time at Southampton but would not see the clash as a threat to his nation.

“I don’t mind who we will face next,” he said. “We want to go far in this competition.”

Delgado, who has been Ecuador’s leading goalscorer since 2002, believes the secret of his national team’s success is team-work.

“We have been working together as a group for some time,” said the 31-year-old. “We know each other very well. That obviously helps when we go out on the pitch.”